Zimbabwe faced a severe crisis of governance in 2000. Regime-inspired violence, intimidation, farm invasions, racist political rhetoric and a complete breakdown of the rule of law characterised the months preceding the June 2000 parliamentary elections.

While the country's first credible opposition movement in twenty years made an impressive showing at the polls, it failed to unseat President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU (PF). Hopes that the closeness of the elections result might temper the government's authoritarian zeal faded rapidly, as the President sought to cling to power, violence continued, and the country's economic problems escalated.

The country is now in a state of free fall, embroiled in the worst political and economic crisis of its twenty-year history as an independent state.

ICG established a watching brief on Zimbabwe in June 2000, with visiting analysts reporting. ICG papers have sought to analyse the causes of Zimbabwe's crisis and to set out strategies for change.